Installing Microsoft PowerShell on MAC OS-X and Linux

Do you like the functionalities of Microsoft PowerShell on Windows? Do you want to use them on your MAC or your Linux installation? Are you planning to install Microsoft PowerShell on your computer with an OS different than Windows? Then you’ve arrived at the right place. We will tell you everything about Microsoft PowerShell and how to install it on different OS versions apart from Windows.

How to Install Microsoft PowerShell

You will find that Microsoft Power Shell is a very powerful tool when used in other operative system installations. You can use the skills you have from Windows to troubleshoot and optimize other operative systems. Make use of this guide and have it up and running in no time.

What is Microsoft PowerShell?

Microsoft PowerShell includes two key components:

OS PowerShell

PowerShell Core

It is a way to automate tasks and administer advanced options from Microsoft. Microsoft PowerShell works with a command line, and you need to know the right language, which is based on the .net Framework. PowerShell has been a very popular tool for Windows for a long time.

If Microsoft PowerShell is for Windows, how can I use it for other OS?

Indeed, at first, Microsoft PowerShell was just for Windows. It gives access to WMI and COM features. You can engage in system administration from a local resource or a remote machine from the PowerShell command line.

With the use of CIM and WS-Management, you can now take control of a Linux or Mac OS and other network devices. Microsoft released Microsoft PowerShell recently as an open source platform to be used in any OS, starting in August 2016. That opens a whole new world of possibilities for the application.

With an open source installation, you may use it without the need to get licenses. It has also been proven that open source software benefits from developers around the world, which enriches the original code.

Installing Microsoft PowerShell on MAC OS-X and Linux

Where can I find the Installation Packages of Microsoft PowerShell officially released from Microsoft?

The installation packages are available at the Microsoft official web page. You may find the following versions online:

CentOS 7

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

Ubuntu, 64-bit, Version 14.04

Ubuntu, 64-bit, Version 16.04

Mac OS-X 10.11.

Use the following link to get you to the Microsoft PowerShell site where you will find plenty of information.

Where can I find previous versions of Microsoft PowerShell, beta tests, and modified PowerShell installation packages?

Like all open source programs, there is plenty of information and new developments with added functionalities for practically all operative systems. An excellent building repository is found at the GitHub site. Visit the following link for more information about PowerShell developments:

The files uploaded to the GitHub site can be tricky. If yu are new to open source material, you may get confused with all the information available.

Once you are on the GitHub site, you should download the package depending on your operating system. We recommend you the following installation packages:

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 and CentOS 7: Click the file that ends with “el7.centos.x86_64.rpm”

14.04 Ver. Ubuntu: Click the file that ends with “14.04.1_amd64.deb”

16.04 Ver. Ubuntu: Click the file that ends with “16.04.1_amd64.deb”

For Mac OS: Click the file that ends with “.pkg”

How to Install Microsoft PowerShell on Linux?

The following initial instructions work for any Linux OS, including:

CentOS 7

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

14.04 Ubuntu, 64-bit, Version

16.04 Ubuntu, 64-bit, Version

Once you’ve downloaded the right installation package, you may proceed to open a terminal window. Then, it is time to do the installation of the package you just downloaded. Depending on the versions there are little variances on the command lines you need to enter. We will go through each of them in the following sections.

If you are not sure which file should you pick when you are downloading the installation package, check the following section for detailed instructions:

Which file should I download from the GitHub site?

The specific command lines are different depending on your Linux Version; we will give you detailed information on the following sections. Look for your Linux version for the details.

Command Lines for the Installation on CentOS 7

For CentOS 7, you have to type the next line of command:

sudo yum install /path/to/powershell.rpm

That is going to start the installation process of PowerShell on your CentOS 7 operative system.

Command Lines for the Installation on Ubuntu 15.04

When you are using Linux Ubuntu 16.04, these are the command lines you have to enter into the terminal window:

sudo apt-get install libunwind8 libicu55

sudo dpkg -i /path/to/powershell.deb

Let’s say you downloaded the installation package named “powershell_6.0.0-alpha.9-1ubuntu1.16.04.1_amd64.deb”. Assuming you didn’t change your download folder, it should be at the default location for downloads. Then, you have to run the next lines:

If you changed the download default folder, or if you get an error message at this point, we will see some tips d tricks for the installation on Ubuntu 15.04 on the following section.

Tips and tricks for the Installation on Ubuntu 15.04

If you changed your default download folder, of if you relocated the installation package somewhere else here are some useful tips, First of all, make sure to correct the route before you enter the second command line. It is the highlighted part on the following line.

If you received an error message, once you’ve checked the file route, then there is a trick you can do. The file name is long, and you may type it mistakenly. When you change the path where the installation package is located, you may also make a mistake. To be sure you writing the command right, you may use a useful shortcut on the command line.

When you are writing the file name, type the location and the first part of the installation package name. It may be just the first three letters. Then, use the TAB key. Bash is going to fill the rest of the name for you when you don’t have another file that starts with the same beginning you’ve typed. When you have other files, you may want to type some more letters to find it. If you are sure it is the only file and it does not complete it for you, you might have to check the location. You may be addressing to the wrong folder.

Command Lines for the Installation on Ubuntu 14.04

When you use Linux Ubuntu 14.04, the command lines are different. Enter the following instructions into the terminal window:

sudo apt-get install libunwind8 libicu52

sudo dpkg -i /path/to/powershell.deb

It should start the installation on your screen.

How do I know I did it right?

If you did it right, the installation should start. Your command screen will tell you the progress of the installation. With every command line you enter, you will receive a response similar to the following samples:

Once you see again the command line ready to receive a new instruction, then your installation is complete. You can now proceed to use the PowerShell new install on your computer.

How to do the PowerShell Installation when I am using MAC OS-X

To do the installation on MAC OS-X is easier than Linux. You just have to open the .pkg file you just downloaded.

When you are not sure which file should you pick when you are downloading the installation package for MAC OS-X or where to find it, you can check the following sections:

Where can I find previous versions of PowerShell, beta tests, and modified PowerShell installation packages?

Which file should I download from the GitHub site?

There are links and detailed instructions on how to download the right file for your MAC OS-X system.

Once you open the .pkg file, an automated installation instance will be opened on your computer. It is just like installing any other program on your MAC computer. You should see the following window on top of your desktop:

There is a chance that the package you downloaded is not signed with MAC. Until the moment we developed this document it was not. If that is the case, you will receive the following message instead of the installation screen:

If that happens, all you have to do is evade the doorkeeper from your OS. You have to open the installation package again, but this time do it a bit differently. Follow these steps:

Right-click the installation package (the .pkg file you just downloaded).

Look for the Open option and click on it.

Then, agree to open the installation package even if it is not signed.

An alternative for step 1 is to left-click while pressing the CTRL key. Once you’ve completed these steps, you should see the installation window on your screen.

Then, you have to follow the instructions on the screen. You will be guided on five steps as follows:

Introduction

Destination Select

Installation Type

Installation

Summary

We recommend you to keep the default selection for the destination select and installation type. Those are the only options that will require your intervention. All other steps are informative, and you don’t need to do anything.

Once you reach the fifth step (summary), your installation will be complete, and you can now use PowerShell on your MAC OS-X. You will receive a brief report of the installation results. If anything went wrong, this screen would tell you. Until now, there are no known common issues with installation at this point, and the only problem seems to be the unregistered package that makes it tricky to open it in the first place.

How to Launch the New Installation of PowerShell on Linux

No matter which Linux version you are using, you can open PowerShell the same way. Just open a terminal and type the following command:

powershell

You will know you’ve entered PowerShell because the new prompt on your screen will start with PS instead of the usual Linux prompt. Once you have it, you can use the regular commands you would use for PowerShell. When you are done, just type the next command on your prompt line:

exit

You will return to the regular Linux terminal.

How to Launch the New Installation of MAC OS-X

When you want to use PowerShell on MAC OS-X, open a MAC command line. Not all users are aware of its existence because it is not commonly used. You will find it in your “Utilities” folder under the name of Terminal.

Another way to do it is to search for it in the Spotlight search under the name of Terminal. If you are going to use PowerShell often, we recommend you to add the Terminal to your dock. That way you will have easier access to PowerShell. Then, just like in Linux, type the following command:

powershell

You will know you’ve entered PowerShell because you will see the PS initials as a prompt on your screen. Then, you may use all the commands you already know from PowerShell on Windows. When you are done, just type the following command:

exit

Where can I find PowerShell commands?

You can find the PowerShell commands at the Microsoft help site. Here is a link for the basic commands on PowerShell. They are also the most useful and therefore the most commonly used:

End users will find that GitHub is regularly updated with new releases, fixes, patches and other useful information. It is also the right place to contact experts who can help you to solve some of the most advanced problems. You can make suggestions for improvements and more at the GitHub site for PowerShell. As an open source, there is much you can get from the community.

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